US holisticUnited States · Bachelor’sResearched 1d ago

Economics

Northwestern University

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Overview

Northwestern Economics is a bachelor’s program in Weinberg College, and applicants are admitted through Northwestern’s general undergraduate process rather than a separate Economics selection process. Northwestern says it uses the same admission review criteria for all undergraduate applicants, and Economics is not listed as a limited-admission major.

Admission criteria

PortfolioLow

No portfolio or work-sample submission is required for Northwestern undergraduate admission to Economics. Northwestern says it will not review Coalition Locker materials unless a student actively includes them in the application, and Economics has no separate creative or project portfolio requirement.

Bar to clear: Not used by this program

Statement of PurposeMedium

Writing matters through Northwestern’s required short-answer supplement, which the university says is designed around areas most important to its holistic review: how personal experiences shape engagement at Northwestern and how the student’s vision aligns with its resources and community. The long personal essay is optional, and optional short answers do not add extra weight.

Bar to clear: Required 300-word Northwestern short answer; personal essay optional

Academics & GPAHigh

This is the strongest documented factor. Northwestern says it evaluates academic and intellectual fit through grades, course rigor, and the secondary-school curriculum in context. For Weinberg applicants, the university recommends at least 16 academic units, and notes that most applicants present more than the minimum.

Bar to clear: Rigorous secondary transcript with 16+ academic units; most applicants exceed the minimum

Test scoresMedium

SAT/ACT scores are optional, but if submitted Northwestern says they are weighed alongside other materials in holistic review. For applicants whose first language is not English or whose schooling was not in English, an official English proficiency test is required; Northwestern states no minimum score, but says competitive applicants typically score in the high range across sections.

Bar to clear: SAT/ACT optional; if English testing is required, no minimum is stated and high section scores are typical

Application components

Northwestern writing supplementOptional personal essaySecondary school transcript / school reportSAT or ACT score report if submittedTOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test report if required

How to stand out

→Prioritize the strongest possible transcript and course rigor, since Northwestern explicitly centers grades and curriculum in holistic review.

→Use the required Northwestern short answer to show clear fit with Northwestern’s interdisciplinary and community-oriented environment rather than writing a generic why-college essay.

→Do not spend time building a separate portfolio for Economics unless you have an optional work sample that genuinely strengthens your academic story.

→Submit SAT or ACT only if the score reflects your academic potential well; otherwise rely on the rest of the file.

→If English proficiency testing is required for you, aim for strong scores across all sections because Northwestern says competitive applicants are typically in the high range.

→Frame any economics-related activities or projects as evidence of intellectual engagement and initiative inside the application’s existing essays and activities list, since there is no separate Economics screening.

Source confidence

90%Well sourced

Sources

Application Materials: Undergraduate Admissions - Northwestern University

admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/requirements.html

Official first-year requirements page showing test-optional SAT/ACT policy and required Northwestern writing supplement.

Writing Supplements FAQ: Undergraduate Admissions - Northwestern University

admissions.northwestern.edu/faqs/writing-supplements/

Official FAQ stating the required short answer, optional personal essay, and that supplements target areas most important to holistic review.

Standardized Testing Policy FAQ: Undergraduate Admissions - Northwestern University

admissions.northwestern.edu/faqs/standardized-testing-policy/

Official FAQ explaining that submitted SAT/ACT scores are weighed in holistic review, that applying without them does not hurt review, and that some applicants must still submit English proficiency tests.